‘The Simpsons’ makes TV history with renewal for 29th and 30th seasons

“The Simpsons” has routinely made television history since its debut in 1990, and the show has toppled yet another record.

Fox announced Friday (Nov. 4) that it has renewed the sitcom for two more seasons, which will continue the show’s run through its 30th season. Most notably, the show will have aired 669 episodes by that time, breaking the record for the most number of episodes for any scripted TV show. The previous record of 635 episodes belonged to “Gunsmoke,” a Western that enjoyed a 20-season run between 1955 and 1975.

In a statement, Fox chairmen and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman celebrated the shows longevity and cultural impact by acknowledging the work of the voice cast, producers and writers – a group that they believe is “one of the greatest collections of creative talent in the history of the medium.”

They also added: “And to the millions of ‘Simpsons’ fans around the world, thank you for watching all these years. We’re happy to tell you there’s lots more to come.”

The show has been a significant force in entertainment since its introduction, earning 32 Emmy Awards and leading to the creation of comic books, video games, theme park attractions and a feature-length film. And even after 26 years, the show draws an average audience of 7.2 million viewers across multiple platforms, according to Fox.